Baltimore Yearly Meeting of the Religious
Society of Friends abhors the abuse of prisoners of any classification, in
any place. We call upon all governments and combatants both to declare
their rejection of abuse and torture and to adhere strictly to the
conventions for the humane treatment of all detainees.

We are also deeply dismayed by reports
that our own government in recent years has acted in ways that legitimate
such practices and make of them an example to others.

We are grateful for the prophetic voices
that have called for an end to these practices, and we regret that there
are not many more. We urge Friends everywhere to find ways to take up such
a witness, by public education and organized effort. Iii particular, we
join Friends World Committee for Consultation, and other meetings in
endorsing the call by Friend John Calvi of New England Yearly Meeting for
a Quaker Conference to seek ways that Friends can work actively for an end
to torture everywhere.